THE LIKELY PASS. 241 



you; you can't get out; return to the gate." Under- 

 standing why he thought I could not go towards 

 the hounds, I timed dear Coco in his stroke at the 

 cover fencoj and he flew over like a bird, not touch- 

 ing the blackberry bushes which twined above the 

 little wattled hedge. Though the jump was into a 

 cover, it had at last become a settled matter between 

 my horse and myself as to who was invariably to dic- 

 tate. The hounds had kept on, and it was some little 

 time before I recovered the place I wished for, and 

 then, when I did so, as far as I could judge from their 

 method, they did not seem to be on good terms with 

 the beast of chase, whatever it might be, though 

 then they must have been at him for more than 

 an hour. Hearing that the cry was pointing for a 

 high road intersecting the forest, I made for what 

 seemed to me to be the likeliest pass near me. 

 Shortly after this the report of a gun sounded, but, 

 as I was not sure of much beyond it, I kept 

 my position. The cry from those who fired ought 

 to have been, in French as well as in English, 

 "Look back." 



The fact was as follows : " M. d'Anchald and 

 Ludovic had made for the intersecting high road as 

 well as myself, and, knowing a likely pass, posted 

 themselves. Ludovic got a shot, hit the animal of 



R 



